Royal Greenhouses of Laeken

    During the 19th century, progress in construction techniques, especially the use of metal and glass as construction materials, made a new type of building possible: the greenhouse. The Royal Greenhouses in Laeken cover six acres of Art Nouveau domes and galleries. Highlights include the Azalea House, the rotunda, a colony of birds, orange trees, giant ferns, fruit-bearing banana trees, grottoes, glades and grassy vistas. Walkways are filled with climbing geraniums and fuchsias, whose blossoms form an overhead canopy. The visit ends with a short walk through the Royal Park. Each year, in the spring, the Greenhouses of Laeken are opened to the public, during almost three weeks. This tradition has been carried on for a century.

    The complex of greenhouses which complement the castle of Laeken designed for King Leopold II built in the classical style in 1873 by Belgian architect Alphonse Balat. The complex has the appearance of a glass city set in a wavy landscape. The monumental pavilions, glass cupolas, wide arcades that cross the site like covered streets, are much more than an anecdote on the architectural applications of iron and glass or on little greenhouses of exotic plants.

    The modern plant collection at the Greenhouses in Laeken is valuable from three viewpoints. First of all, some of the plants belonging to Leopold II's initial collections still subsist. Moreover, the present collections still honour the spirit that predominated when the primary collections were planted. In conclusion, the Royal Greenhouses still hold a tremendous number of uncommon and priceless plants.

    Every year, in the spring, the Greenhouses of Laeken are opened to the public, during almost three weeks. This tradition has been carried on for a century. Opening period in 2006 : April 19th - May 7th. Closed on Mondays.